I’ve had a unit of 28mm Spanish dragoons from the Napoleonic Wars languishing in my unpainted models box for some years now. I bought them from Front Rank when I was painting Spanish units for my Peninsula armies.
While I had great fun painting the Spanish infantry and guerillas, for whatever reason I never got the urge to paint those cavalry.
Well, that’s about to change. The other day, while I was looking for something else, I found the dragoons lying dolefully at the bottom of the lead-pile. I felt sorry for the poor blighters, and so I’ve now committed to finally painting them. And making it public here means that I now have to do so!
I don’t know why I’ve resisted painting them for so long. After all, Spanish dragoons have a rather splendid yellow uniform, which will be fun to paint, because yellow is such an unusual colour in the horse-and-musket wargamer’s palette. But it’ll also be a challenge to ensure they don’t end up looking too gaudy.
Illustration by Jose Maria Bueno, from the site: http://greatestbattles.iblogger.org/GB/Spanish/Dragoons.htm
Don’t expect anything too fast though. My painting pace these days is glacial. And I do also have some Minden Miniatures 18th century generals sitting half-done who will need finishing too.
But I made a start today by washing the figures in detergent. It reminded me how beautifully sculpted and cast Front Rank’s figures are. So I’m now getting quite enthused to start painting …
DRESSING THE LINES 
Ah, the yellow Spanish dragoons. You have had these for a while Roly. I look forward to seeing how they turn out … and how envious Terry will be! 8O)
Salute
von Peter himself
I have been thinking of Spanish cavalry as well Roly. I just finished my second Militia battalion (using Perry Carlist Militia) and have ordered a swag of regular infantry from Elite.
I will be interested in knowing how you do the yellow uniform.
I’m looking forward to seeing the first few painted samples. They will be spectacular.
Excellent looking figures and like you said yellow’s such an unusual colour for the period, I’ll look forward to seeing your Dragoons!